Precious metals markets got hit this week as the Federal Reserve threw cold water on the idea of interest rate cuts.

Fed policy makers met on Wednesday and left their benchmark rate unchanged as expected. The Fed’s statement noted that price inflation excluding food and energy has declined over the past 12 months and is officially running below 2%. This, even as oil and gasoline prices have trended sharply higher this year.

Fed chairman Jerome Powell described the below-target official inflation number as “transitory.” He indicated he expects inflation to return to target at 2% without more central bank stimulus.

Powell’s comments disappointed investors who were hoping for a rate cut later this year. Equity markets joined metals markets in selling off.

For the week, gold prices are down 0.3% and currently come in at $1,283 an ounce. Silver is posting a weekly decline of 1.0% as spot prices trade at $14.98. Although they are bou ... Read more »